“Everyone says that I have no sense of humor, then I construct a perfectly sound pun around a well-known psychological condition, and it is ignored.”

“I am Butler. Anything I say sounds scary.”

“We lost the crickets," she said. "Even you can't make that sound tough."..."I am Butler," he said with a straight-face. "Everything I say sounds tough. Now, get out of the lake, fairy.”

“Ignorance, as they say, is usually fatal, but sometimes it can be bliss.”

“Nobody's death is impending." ..."Well technically everyone's death is impending.”

“Earth,” he began, ignoring the impulse to open his notes folder and count the words. He knew this lecture by heart.“Our home. She feeds us, she shelters us. Her gravity prevents us from flying off into space and freezing, before thawing out again and being crisped by the sun, none of which really matters, as we would have long since asphyxiated.” Artemis paused for laughter and was surprised when it did not arrive. “That was a little joke. I read in a presentation manual that a joke often serves to break the ice. And I actually worked icebreaking into the joke, so there were layers to my humor.”

“This is the only way. I will not allow humans or fairies to die when I might have prevented it.” Butler would not give up. “Listen to yourself. You sound like a... like a good guy! There’s nothing in this for you.”